[Lvl 22] - Grasp of the Mantled Citadel.pdf

Venomous TreeLevel 24 BlasterTrap XP 6,050The branches of the twisted trees writhe menacingly in the stillair. A cloud of green and white energy forms above the treesbefore hurtling downward.Trap: One or more living creatures beyond the bounds ofthe teleportation circle on the knoll awaken the twistedspirit of the trees. Fell energies coil about the trees. Whenthe trees awake, each contributes a strand of energy to awrithing mass of green and white energy forming abovethe trees which then lances downward to strike the visiblecharacter farthest away from the teleportation circle.PerceptionDC 28: The character notices the tree branches stir slightlyalthough the air is still.DC 32: The character spots motes of green and white energycoiling around the trees’ branches.Initiative +8TriggerWhen a living creature exits the teleportation circle orotherwise reaches the top of the knoll.AttackStandard Action Ranged 8Targets: One creatureAttack: +27 vs. WillHit: 4d6 + 8 poison damage and target weakened (save ends).CountermeasuresThe trap is disabled when all the trees are destroyed or theirconnection to the energy cloud is severed. An adjacentcharacter can sever a tree’s connection to the cloud with aDC 35 Thievery check or a DC 32 Arcana check. A charactercan attack a tree (AC 32, other defenses 28; hp 90).Once enemies appear, the blackroot treant uses entanglingroots to restrain targets before crushing intruderswith slam attacks. It attacks fire-wielding enemiesabove all others and positions itself so that as manyenemies as possible suffer its blackroot aura.The blackstar knights move around the battlefieldusing no escape to keep their foes off balance. Theyuse their greatsword to mark a target, following up thisattack with deathsword.Once bloodied, a blackstar knight moves close tothe treant to benefit from its blackroot aura.Illumination: Bright light. Pale, wan light seepsdown through the clouds above.Steep Cliff: Steep cliffs make up three of theknoll’s sides. The cliffs are 20 feet high, so charactersfalling down them take 2d10 falling damage.Characters can scale the cliffs with a DC 16 Athleticscheck.Teleportation Circle: The teleportation circle iscarved and burned into the rock of the knoll. It allowsentry to and exit from this forsaken place.Dense Woods: The Forest of Twisted Souls surroundsthe knoll. Movement among the trees is slow;treat any square within the tree line as difficultterrain.Writhing Roots: Thick, gnarled roots thrust fromthe forest floor to trip the unwary. When a characterenters a square containing writhing roots, the rootsimmediately make a melee attack: +22 vs. Reflex; ahit knocks the character prone unless the charactersucceeds at a DC 24 Acrobatics check.Skeletal Trees: The three trees atop the knoll arepart of the Venomous Tree trap. Refer to the VenomousTree stat block for more information.Once the PCs have defeated the knoll’s guardians,they can look around and get their bearings. Clearlyvisible in the distance is another rocky knoll. Atopthat knoll, a huge outcropping of black rock risesup almost to the low, dark clouds. Between the twoknolls stands the warped, skeletal boughs of theForest of Twisted Souls.If the heroes wish, they can take an extended restatop this knoll without fear of wandering monsters.When the characters descend the knoll, proceed toEncounter F2.Several ritual fragments borne on the wind swirlthrough the area where this encounter takes place.The combatants can make use of these ritual fragmentsusing the rules presented in Ritual Fragmentson page 57.Affect Normal Fires Fragment (Arcana or Nature):Wisps of smoke coil about the tree and the stench ofburning hangs thickly in the air.A character can attempt to activate this fragment inan encounter only after a combatant has utilized apower or attack with the Fire keyword.A character making a successful check can manipulatemundane and magical flames to augment hisattacks. A successful check wreathes the character’sweapon or implement with flames which add 2d6fire damage to attacks made before the end of hisnext turn.Snare Fragment (Nature): A swirling cloud of smallsticks, bits of moss, and so on tumbles across the ground.A barbarian, druid, shaman, or warden gains a +2bonus to checks made to activate this ritual fragment.A character activating this fragment causes the rootsin one square to burst from the ground and try toentangle a foe in that square. The roots make anattack equal to the character’s level + 4 vs. Reflex. Ona hit, the target is immobilized until the end of thecharacter’s next turn, when the roots burrow backinto the ground.October 2009 | DUNGEON 171